Neither Shaken Nor Stirred
by Master Lee Feng San Shifu
Translated by Sophia Lui
Edited by Ric Meyers
Once upon a time, someone remarked: “Shakyamuni is really a man of great blessing.” Another heard him and said: “His mother abandoned him while he was only seven days old. Do you call that a man of great blessing?” Then someone replied: “There is much about him that you do not know!”
Since childhood, the words and deeds of this man have never deviated from his mother’s teachings, as if she has never left his side. This is not something which the average person manages to do. For instance, when he got hit, he did not hit back; when he got verbally assaulted, he never returned a word. Regardless of the circumstances, he is always calm and measured. This is incredible because generally we lose our cool if we get verbally or physically attacked. However, this is not the case with Shakyamuni. Regardless of how distressing a situation is, he is always calm and never loses his head.
Shakyamuni always adheres to the principles of “one step at a time” and “if one does not move forwards, one slides backwards.” He believes that if we keep putting one foot ahead of the other, we will eventually reach our destination. He has already mastered the principles of the highly realized masters and he abides by them from the beginning, right to the very end.
However, for most of us this seems to be an accomplishment beyond reach. Why? Because, in his everyday life, Shakyamuni is impeccable in his every word and deed, and he never lets his guard down. Therefore, when a tough situation arises, he can deal with it like his usual self. Many people, however, have not cultivated this habit of mindfulness, and so, in the face of calamity, they lose their head.
Therefore, we must pay attention to our habits of mind and behavior, which we should cultivate on a daily basis. This is because we reap what we sow. Be mindful of the habits that we are nurturing at each and every moment. If we wish to take a peek at the future, we only need to look at the habits we are nurturing at this moment.
“Never let our guard down for a day, nor for an hour, nor for even a moment.” — Lee Feng San Shifu